Social Cleavages and Political Change

Voter Alignment and U.S. Party Coalitions

Jeff Manza and Clem Brooks

Social Cleavages and Political Change

Voter Alignment and U.S. Party Coalitions

Jeff Manza and Clem Brooks

Description

This study provides the first systematic book-length reassessment and restatement of the sociological approach to American politics in more than 20 years. It examines the changing nature of social cleavages and their effect on political allegiances and voting behavior in the United States since the 1950s. It also challenges widespread arguments that the importance of social cleavages have declined precipitously in recent years.

Social Cleavages and Political Change

Voter Alignment and U.S. Party Coalitions

Jeff Manza and Clem Brooks

Table of Contents

Introduction1. The Sociological Tradition in Political Behaviour Research1. Social Cleavages and American Politics3. Class4. Religion5. Gender6. Race and the Social Bases of Voter Alignments7. Party Coalitions8. Social Cleavages in the 1996 Elections9. Third Party Candidates10. Conclusion

Social Cleavages and Political Change

Voter Alignment and U.S. Party Coalitions

Jeff Manza and Clem Brooks

Author Information

Jeff Manza is Associate Professor of Sociology and Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University